Clutch and Brake Fluid Reservoir Cap Removal

[BC1100S]

My new-to-me K1200S has me stumped. How do I remove the caps on the fluid reservoirs? I've tried unscrewing but I thought beforehand that this might not work.

So, what's the trick?

(I am fully aware that this may qualify as Stupid Question of the Day/Week/Month)

[henzilla]

Some will open with a good twist. The penny fix is a length of dental floss ,doubled or better,wrapped around the resevoir jusf below cap to push the two little clips in far enough...think tourniquet.Tighten and unscrew the cap.

Their is a special tool of course from BMW

The clutch resevoir only needs opening if you feel the need to change the mineral oil...which lasts a long time compared to the Oilheads use of brake fluid

[BC1100S]

Thanks Steve. I knew there was some sort of "BMW thing" working against me .

The fluid in there is dark so I was thinking of changing it. Mineral oil, eh? I googled mineral oil and got back (mainly) "intestinal lubricant". Also some "light" mineral oil choices. But right up front was Johnson's Baby Oil.

Which one do I need?

[dlong]

Magura Blood blue mineral oil is the OEM product. Some have used drugstore mineral oil with good results.

[BC1100S]

Magura Blood blue mineral oil is the OEM product. Some have used drugstore mineral oil with good results.

Thanks, dlong.

I just came from the drugstore and saw some of the "heavy" variety mineral oil. No "light" mineral oil. And the ingredients for unscented Johnson's Baby Oil is....mineral oil.

Decisions, decisions.....

[PGlaves]

If you look closely you will see two tabs opposite each other that both need to be depressed to allow the cap to turn. (Thus the floss trick.) I bent some wire in a horseshoe shape with the ends bent inward to engage both tabs. Then squeezing them together allows the lid to turn.

[BC1100S]

Thanks for the hints, guys. As always, they are appreciated.

[henzilla]

Thanks, dlong.

I just came from the drugstore and saw some of the "heavy" variety mineral oil. No "light" mineral oil. And the ingredients for unscented Johnson's Baby Oil is....mineral oil.

Decisions, decisions.....

20170913_172337.jpg

And to confuse things, BMW sells two different mineral oils...one red, one blue and yes...two different part numbers. Both the part numbers are gone from my bottles from oil on them

Not being a hydraulic specialist as far as what the differences are, I just use what the current model has
listed under the clutch listing in the parts fiche. Only changed on friends bikes that had a failure and not
as a routine maintenance item on our herd. Seems the fluid was blue in both ours and cannot recall which
bike required the red...dang mind

[BC1100S]

I remembered that KTM also uses mineral oil in their clutch systems. So....I went to the KTM dealer up the street and bought some Motorex mineral oil from them. I'm sure I'll be damned to hell for not buying BMW-labelled oil but I like to live outside the box.

Thanks again, guys.

[henzilla]

I remembered that KTM also uses mineral oil in their clutch systems. So....I went to the KTM dealer up the street and bought some Motorex mineral oil from them. I'm sure I'll be damned to hell for not buying BMW-labelled oil but I like to live outside the box.

Thanks again, guys.

At least your KTM dealer is "up the street"

They are rarer around here these days than the BMW shops

[BC1100S]

At least your KTM dealer is "up the street"

I've got two (2) within 10 km (6 miles) of my front door.

And two (2) BMW dealers within 25 km (16 miles).

Life is tough where I live.

[Lee]

My new-to-me K1200S has me stumped. How do I remove the caps on the fluid reservoirs? I've tried unscrewing but I thought beforehand that this might not work.

So, what's the trick?

I used the two blades of my pocket knife to push in the taps.

P1000609.jpg

[BC1100S]

I used the two blades of my pocket knife to push in the taps.

Well done, sir! I'm going to try that.